The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-29

Mr.. Moore decided 10 marry again,
providing he could find suitable
partner. He wanted wife who would
not be above taking matters IN her own
hands and who would be quite capa-
BILE of steering the household work. So
instead of choosing one among The
well-to-do families where he visited. he
sought out Eliza Perkins. "A little
woman OF five aud thirty. who had
been accustomed to hard work and
poverty all her life, aud who felt grate-
full for having been sought in marriage
at such late day by such good man
MS John Moore.
Eliza had been so accustomed TO
scraping and saving that she was un-
able to give up the habit. even in John
Moore's fine house. Mr.. Moore
thought it best TO let her do as she
wished for time, in the hope that she
would gradually come into taking
things easier and enjoying life little
more. The plan seemed to have fail
ed. however, and everything was in a
muddle.
Eliza was tired and sore-hearted as
she went to her room to change her
dress that afternoon; but it was a
good drying day, and she had the sat-
isfaction of knowing that she had a
long line of snow-whle clothes flap
ping in the breeze. There was q
scampering in the upper hall, and she
pressed her lips hard together for she
knew that the girls were hnrrying
away from her. and hot tears rolled
down her cheeks rs she entered her
own room.
There was something on her bed, but
she could not see what it was, so she
wiped her eyes with the corner OF her
apron. A rich black silk dress was
carefully spread out on the counterpart.
and slip of paper, with some writing
upon il, was tucked into fold. Eliza
picked up the paper and read:
"From Clara, Lu and BERTHE, with
their love"
The aslOnished woman could only
glance from the paper to the dress and
from the dress TO the paper One, two,
and then three heads popped out from
behind the closet door. and in another
moment three pair of arms were around
Eliza and three voices asked her If she
liked II.
''But id YOU really give il TO me
yourselves" asked Eliza in astonish-
ment.
"Of course we did," said Lu. 1--WE
bought il with our own money and
made il ourselves"
'But then you know we had the
dressmakcr cut and plan it for us, "
said Clara.
"And what Il time we had keeping it
from YOU" said BERTHE. "Wo came
near spelling ii hustlng it in the closet
80 many times when we thought we
heard you comcing."
Butt thought-you did not like
me- said Eliza. II imagined you
thought | was trying to take your
mothers place and"
"But we didn't" said Clara. 1--WE
don't call you mother because you are
so young; but if you will let us call
you Eliza we would like it so much.
You seem like sister to u.s."
II don't care what you call me.
said Eliza with happy tears in her
eyes. "if am not one too many among
you.
1--WE. lacked just one until you
came" said Lu, kissing her, ''but we
are just a nice little family circle
now"
When Mr.. Moore returned home
that evening there was heavy shadow
on his brow. and no one will ever
know just how he dreaded going into
the house. Upon entering the sitting
room he was surprised to find his wife
and daughters talking and laughing
together.
Eliza arose as he entered, and. going
to him. said:
Il have been very wicked, John; but.
these dear children of yours have taken
me in hand. and will, | hope. make
better woman Of me"
"You need only be your natural self, y
he said, as he stopped down and kissed
her.
Never after that time did Eliza think
that she was one too many. II other
step mothers would give step-children
chance to love them there would be
less cause for complaint.